Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were forced to evacuate their residence early Sunday morning after an arsonist set fire to the property while they slept.

Top Takeaways

• Pennsylvania State Police have confirmed the incident was an act of arson that caused significant damage to the governor’s residence in Harrisburg.
• The Shapiro family was alerted around 2AM by state police and safely evacuated while fire crews extinguished the blaze on the first floor.
• No injuries were reported despite the governor, his wife, and their four children being home during the attack.
• A 38-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the arson.
• The incident occurred on the first night of Passover, shortly after Shapiro shared holiday greetings on social media.

Emergency Evacuation in Pre-Dawn Hours

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family experienced a harrowing ordeal when they were awakened by state police banging on their door around 2AM Sunday morning. The Democratic governor, who was elected in 2022, was home with his family when an arsonist targeted the historic Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. State authorities quickly evacuated the family to safety while the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded to battle the blaze, which was contained to a portion of the first floor but still caused what officials described as “significant damage” to the property.

The governor shared details of the frightening experience in a statement, expressing gratitude that no one was harmed. “Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg,” Shapiro wrote on X. The family, which includes four children, two of whom are minors, was reportedly in a different part of the residence when the fire began.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home set on fire by arsonist while his family slept https://t.co/QIZnnsWVJG pic.twitter.com/DJMas8GFCH

— New York Post (@nypost) April 13, 2025

Investigation Underway with Reward Offered

Pennsylvania State Police have launched a multiagency investigation into the arson attack. “While the investigation is ongoing, the State Police is prepared to say at this time that this was an act of arson,” authorities stated in an official release. The timing of the attack has raised questions, as it occurred shortly after Shapiro shared Passover greetings on social media with the message: “From the Shapiro family’s Seder table to yours, happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach!”

Police announced on Sunday night that they had arrested 38-year-old Cody Balmer and charged him with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault against an enumerated person. Officials say that Balmer hopped the fence to the governor’s residence before the incident around 2 a.m. He was found to have “homemade incendiary devices” according to Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens.

The Governor’s Residence, a historic property that has housed eight Pennsylvania governors since 1968, now stands as a crime scene while investigators work to determine the suspect’s motives. Security measures around the governor and his family have presumably been enhanced following the attack, though officials have not released specific details about current protection protocols.

Shapiro’s Rising Political Profile

The arson attack comes at a time when Governor Shapiro has been gaining national attention as a rising star in the Democratic Party. With a 59% approval rating among Pennsylvania voters, Shapiro’s popularity exceeds that of almost every other governor in the country. The former state attorney general was previously considered as a potential running mate for Kamala Harris in the last presidential race and is widely viewed as a possible Democratic contender for the White House in 2028.

The targeting of a high-profile elected official’s residence raises serious concerns about political violence and the safety of public servants. While the investigation remains in its early stages, the deliberate nature of the attack has prompted increased vigilance from law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting government officials.